Regulations relating to the Bachelor degree at Oslo University College
Approved by the Board of Oslo University College 1 December 2005 in accordance with Act. No. 15 of 1 April 2005 relating to universities and university colleges, section 3-2 first paragraph, section 3-3 second paragraph, section 3-4 first, third and fourth paragraphs, section 3-5, and section 3-11, with amendments approved by the Board 15 June 2006.
This document is a translation of a legally binding document originally written in Norwegian. If a dispute arises as to the interpretation of this document, the Norwegian version takes precedence.
Section 1 Scope
These regulations apply to the Bachelor degree at Oslo University College.
Section 2 Requirements for the Bachelor degree
1.
The Bachelor degree is obtained on the basis of examinations in subjects, courses, course groups or study programmes of 180 credits.
2.
The basis of the Bachelor degree shall comprise one of the following:
a) An integrated programme or other study programme of 180 credits in accordance with a national curriculum laid down by the Ministry or a programme description laid down by the Board of Oslo University College.
b) An integrated programme or other study programme of 120 credits combined with an additional subject, course group or study programme of 60 credits within the same or a different subject/subject area, in accordance with regulations laid down in the programme description.
The two units of 120 and 60 credits respectively must be formally accredited/approved and completed subjects, course groups or study programmes, with passed examinations in all individual courses which form part of the units, according to the programme curriculum or description.
If the supplementary/specialising unit of 60 credits consists of two or more smaller courses, these must constitute an accredited/approved subject, course group or study programme.
In cases of foreign education or in extraordinary cases the Faculty Board may also recognise other combinations of smaller courses as the supplementary/specialising unit of 60 credits than already accredited/approved subjects, course groups or study programmes. In such cases the course combination must constitute a natural unit as regards disciplines.
c) A course of study composed by the student herself/himself, consisting of an integrated programme or a subject, course group or other study programme of minimum 90 credits, combined with an additional subject, course group or study programme of minimum 30 credits. Up to 30 of the remaining credits required for the Bachelor degree may consist of individual, smaller courses.
The requirements regarding the two units of minimum 90 and 30 credits respectively are the same as the requirements regarding the two units in a Bachelor degree pursuant to subsection 2 b.
d) Completion of the first three years of study (180 credits) of a four-year General Teacher Education in accordance with a national curriculum laid down by the Ministry.
3.
The requirements pursuant to subsections 1 and 2 may also be met by subjects, course groups or study programmes which exceed the stated minimum number of credits. However, completed degrees, professional training programmes/courses or other study programmes which are accredited as 180 credits or more, cannot constitute a unit or form part of the basis of the Bachelor degree pursuant to subsections 2 b and 2 c.
4.
One or more independent study work(s) of a total of minimum 15 credits must form part of the basis of the Bachelor degree. If there are several study works, each must amount to minimum 5 credits. The study work(s) may be theoretical, practical or artistic, and may be performed individually or in a student group. The Board may, in supplementary regulations, lay down further regulations concerning the independent work.
Section 3 Recognition of a degree, professional training programme/course, subject, course, course group or study programme in relation to a Bachelor degree
1.
A formerly completed degree, professional training programme/course or other study programme of three or more years leading to a diploma, cannot be converted into a Bachelor degree.
2.
Qualifications awarded by an institution subject to Act relating to universities and university colleges are to be granted the same number of credits in a Bachelor degree at Oslo University College. Correspondingly, qualifications awarded by an institution subject to the mentioned Act before the Act entered into force, are credited with nominal length of study. The Board may, in supplementary regulations, lay down that certain professional training programmes/courses or study programmes are exempted from this. In any case creditation requires that the qualifications concerned were granted formal accreditation/approval by a relevant authority at the time.
3.
When crediting qualifications pursuant to subsection 2 and the qualifications form part of the basis of a degree or a professional training programme/course, the student must take minimum 60 new credits to be awarded a Bachelor degree from Oslo University College. For certain Bachelor degrees the Board may lay down that the student must take up to 90 new credits to obtain the degree.
4.
The Board may lay down that a joint degree awarded in formal cooperation with (an)other institution(s) may be exempted from the requirements concerning new credits pursuant to subsection 3.
5.
Foreign qualifications and Norwegian qualifications not mentioned in subsection 2 may be credited as part of a Bachelor degree according to supplementary regulations laid down by the Board.
6.
In order to be credited as part of a specific Bachelor degree the qualifications must meet the requirements for the Bachelor programme leading to the degree.
7.
A subject, course, course group or independent work/dissertation/thesis which forms part of the basis of a ”hovedfag” or Master degree will not be credited as part of a Bachelor degree. The Board may, in supplementary regulations, exempt foreign Master degree studies from this.
8.
A degree or education from a foreign higher education institution or a Norwegian institution not subject to Act relating to universities and university colleges may be recognised as equivalent to a Bachelor degree or a part of a Bachelor degree at Oslo University College. Recognition pursuant to this provision gives the right to use the title established for the degree to which equivalence is granted.
9.
Degree or education pursuant to subsection 8 which has already been recognised by an institution subject to Act relating to universities and university colleges as equivalent to a specific Bachelor degree or professional training programme/course of minimum 180 credits, will normally not be assessed for recognition as equivalent to a specific Bachelor degree at Oslo University College.
10.
The Board may, in supplementary regulations, lay down requirements for documentation of qualifications which are applied to be credited or recognised in relation to the Bachelor degree at Oslo University College. In extraordinary cases recognition may be granted wholly or partly on the basis of competence documented in other ways than by examinations. Applicants may be required to take tests to check the documented competence or to take supplementary tests. The Board may lay down guidelines for this kind of assessments.
Section 4 Exemption from an examination or test
Exemption from an examination or test which forms part of the basis of the Bachelor degree shall be granted when it has been established that a corresponding examination or test has been passed at Oslo University College or another higher education institution. Such exemption may also be granted on the basis of another suitable examination or test. Documentation of prior learning (formal and non-formal) and work experience may also provide a basis for exemption.
2.
Exemption pursuant to these provisions also apply to compulsory instruction/classes, practical training, project work, assignments, presentations, and other coursework requirements.
3.
The provisions pursuant to section 3 subsection 10 and the corresponding supplementary regulations also apply to applications concerning exemption from an examination or test.
4.
Applications concerning exemption from an examination or test will not be considered until the student has been accepted to the study programme at Oslo University College.
Section 5 Overlap in academic contents
Overlap in academic contents between subjects, courses, course groups or study programmes which form parts of the basis of the Bachelor degree, may not amount to more than 10 credits in total. Overlap exceeding 10 credits must be compensated by relevant subjects or courses.
Section 6 Degree name. Diploma and Diploma Supplement. Institutional adherence requirements. Date of awarding the Bachelor degree
1.
The Board of Oslo University College lays down the degree name indicating the academic contents of a Bachelor degree awarded by the institution.
2.
Oslo University College issues a diploma corresponding to the Bachelor degree awarded.
3.
The Bachelor diploma is issued in Norwegian. A separate Diploma Supplement which is issued in English provides a further description of the candidate’s qualifications and the Norwegian higher education system.
4.
In order to be awarded a Bachelor degree with the corresponding diploma, examinations of minimum 60 credits from Oslo University College must be passed in subjects, courses, course groups or study programmes which form part of the basis of the degree (”institutional adherence requirements”).
In order to be awarded a Bachelor degree pursuant to these regulations section 2 subsection 2 b, the institutional adherence requirements are met if minimum 60 credits from Oslo University College are taken within the subject/subject area which determines the degree name, or within the subject/subject area of the specialising unit which determines an extra degree name if such is established.
The institutional adherence requirements regarding a Bachelor degree pursuant to these regulations section 2 subsection 2 c, are met if minimum 60 credits from Oslo University College form part of the specialising unit of minimum 90 credits which determines the degree name.
The Board may lay down specific provisions concerning institutional adherence requirements regarding a joint degree awarded in formal cooperation with (an)other institution(s).
5.
For candidates who complete a Bachelor degree programme uninterrupted at Oslo University College, the awarding date of the Bachelor degree will normally be the same as the date of their last examination which forms part of the basis of the degree.
For candidates with previous education and candidates who do not complete a Bachelor degree programme uninterrupted at Oslo University College, the awarding date of the Bachelor degree will normally be 20 June when the last examination which forms part of the basis of the degree is passed in the spring semester, and, correspondingly, 20 December in the autumn semester.
Under no circumstances may the awarding date of the Bachelor degree precede the date of approval of the degree programme and degree name by the Board of Oslo University College.
Section 7 Supplementary regulations
The Board of Oslo University College may lay down supplementary regulations pursuant to these regulations.
Section 8 Implementation
These regulations enter into force 1 December 2005.
Section 9 Repeal of earlier regulations
Regulations relating to the Bachelor degree at Oslo University College, laid down by the Board 2 May 2002 with later amendments, and the corresponding supplementary regulations to the regulations, are repealed.